Scottish Lowland Football League
New Dundas Park, Midlothian
Saturday, July 17^th 2021

CELTIC…1
(Lawal 60)

BONNYRIGG ROSE ATHLETIC…2
(Currie 25, Hunter 50)

Bosun Lawal’s debut goal wasn’t enough to salvage anything from the Celtic B Team’s opening game of the season as Tommy McIntyre’s side fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Lee Currie fired Bonyrigg ahead midway through the first half and George Hunter doubled the home side’s lead shortly after half-time. Lawel reduced the deficit on the hour mark but the Hoops couldn’t find an equaliser before full-time.

It took around 10 minutes for the two sides to find their footing in the game and Celtic’s first chance came after 14 minutes when Bruno Davidson gained a yard on his man out on the left and drilled a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. The home side managed to intercept the cross and quickly cleared the danger.

Bonnyrigg responded two minutes later with their first sight of goal. George Hunter burst down the left channel in possession but the striker’s shot come cross was comfortably dealt with by Tobi Oluwayemi in the Hoops goal.

The Celtic defence were then kept for the remainder of the first half as the home side began to heap the pressure on the young Hoops in the final third. Lee Currie nearly fired his team ahead midway through the half with a left-footed effort that came back off the far post.

The Bonnyrigg forward finished his next chance five minutes later. He received a pass on the edge of the area, controlled it with his chest and fired his right-footed half-volley into the bottom corner.

A Celtic counter attack saw Rocco Vata threaten the opposition towards the end of the half. The Hoops forward showed good strength to win the ball in the Bonnyrigg penalty area and he managed to round the keeper out on the byline, but his cut-back was punted clear by the defence.

Vata helped create a great chance just before half-time when he broke away in possession and floated a great pass over the Bonnyrigg defence for Lewis Dobbie. The Hoops forward did well to lift the ball over his marker and get a quick volley off but it was too close to the keeper.

Tobi Oluwayemi was replaced early in the second half after the keeper was injured coming to collect a cross. Ryan Mullen made an excellent save seconds after coming on but George Hunter darted in to finish the rebound and put the home side ahead by two goals.

Celtic reduced the deficit on the hour mark when new signing Bosun Lawel slid in to finish Tsoanelo Letsosa cross from a set-piece.

Tommy McIntyre’s side grew in confidence following the goal and began to pressure Bonnyrigg more in front of goal. Bruno Davidson threatened with a mazy run through the opposition defence but the young forward passed up the chance to draw his side level with his effort flying wide of the mark.

Bonyrigg’s physicality was ever-present throughout the 90 minutes but it was less of a factor as the game wore on and Celtic’s fitness paid off. The home side limited Celtic chances, although Rocco Vata found the back of the net. He headed in with around five minutes remaining but the linesman’s flag was raised after the ball went out of play before the cross came in.

CELTIC: Oluwayemi (Mullen 49); Paterson, Otoo, Lawal, Murphy (Jackson 72), Wylie, Carse, Letsosa, Vata, Davidson, Dobbie
Subs: Robertson, Deane

BONNYRIGG ROSE ATHLETIC: Adams, Brett, Young, Horne, Stewart, McGachie (Connolly 89), Currie, Hunter (R.Gray 70), S.Grey, Wilson, Barrett
Subs: Andrews, Martyniuk, Hoskins, Turner, Hall

Narrow defeat for Celtic B Team in season opener